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I believe that these man were given a sense of false free will and were never really in control over their one destiny. They are just the Fates puppets while they mastered them as they wished. Odysseus was a man of great power who convinced Achilles to join the war when Thetis hid him disguised as a women but not only did he do this but he also sailed on a journey that made him take 10 years to come back to his beloved wife, Penelope. With the aid of the goddess Athena he sailed back to Ithaca but he infuriated Poseidon which made him have many obstacles that would lead to 10 years of wondering. In this tale we have Zeus knowing that odysseus was destined to suffer and have a difficult time going back home but nevertheless, at the end of the journey he was going to return home regardless of what happened in the journey.
Even though the Odyssey is one of the most significant pieces of literature left from Greece, it works against most Greek values. Unlike other epics such as the Iliad, also written by Homer, the Odyssey depicts the image that strategic thinking can overpower physical strength. This story's influence was most likely unwanted in Greek society by authority figures, as it demolished everything they stood for, which was making sure men always aspired to be the strongest warrior. Odysseus, the protagonist, does not fit this Greek-warrior archetype, because he is as wise as he is strong, if not even more so. Odysseus, 'his great mind teeming', embodies the concept of will-power, and demonstrates the superiority of the mind over physical strength, time and time again.
Despite the date of its composition, The Odyssey, an epic poem by Homer, relates not only to lives of ancient Greeks but to those of the 21st century. Archetypes found in The Odyssey provide a sense of reality when applied to the relationships in our daily lives, whether it be our heroes, like Odysseus, or our mentors, like Athena; these characters are not as fictional as they seem. The archetypal hero, Odysseus in The Odyssey, is passionate about fighting for justice in a world that lacks it. Odysseus uses his courage and resilience to “Let peace and wealth come cresting through the land”(437-438: 483) he calls home.
Achilles and Gilgamesh venture into epic journeys that change the trajectory of their lives. It is evident that Achilles’ and Gilgamesh’s journeys fit into Joseph Campbell’s stages of a hero’s journey. Through analyzing each of the stages that Achilles and Gilgamesh endure, both characters indeed grow as heroes. Nonetheless, the growth in Achilles’ and Gilgamesh’s characters are different due to their different journeys. Each of the stages in Achilles’ and Gilgamesh’s journeys are essential to their growth; however, the stages known as the road back and the return with the elixir reveal how they have ultimately grown.
From the beginning Oedipus was destined to fulfill a terrible prophecy, but through particular events that follow the steps of the Hero’s Journey, Oedipus becomes a powerful king of Thebes, only to be destroyed by the prophecy that should have ended his life as a child. The Hero’s Journey typically leads to self-confidence and power, however; the Hero’s Journey of Oedipus leads to his tragic demise. The Hero’s Journey lays out the steps of Oedipus’s future actions, which create suspense, fear, pity, and other emotions that captivates the audience. Similar to many famous stories, Oedipus the King, written by Sophocles in 430 B.C., follows the Hero’s Journey path, which is evident in Oedipus’s departure, initiation, and return.
Odysseus and Achilles are both Greek warriors, but which one is better? Odysseus, a warrior and king of Ithaca spent many years at sea fighting monsters and fighting in the Trojan War. And then Achilles, a demigod, one of Greece's best warriors that fought in the Trojan War but who died to Paris, Prince of Troy. In Homer’s The Odyssey and The Iliad, Odysseus is more of an epic hero than Achilles because of his noble birth, battles with supernatural forces, and is a vast traveler.
In Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Oedipus Rex by Sophocles, both protagonists possess tragic flaws which lead to their demise. Distanced by years in literature, Okonkwo and Oedipus are remarkably similar, however display aspects of their personalities that make their epic journeys of fate quite different. Both characters are arrogant and refuse to be told they are incorrect about anything. They are considered admirable at first, especially in the eyes of the other characters, however by the end of both stories, they are considered outcasts. Both men possess an egotistic attitude and have an overwhelming sense of pride in their achievements.
Although the word “hero” has transcended time, the definition has not. When modern-day humans go into reading about Greek heroes, expecting them to resemble our current ones, they are unpleasantly surprised to find selfish people who sometimes indiscriminately murder in the name of honor. In comparison, we value the firefighter that puts their life on the line to save others, the person standing up to the bully with pacifism rather than fists, and those that learn to forgive and forget instead of spending their entire lives seeking revenge on those that have wronged them. Thus, Achilles would not be considered a modern-day hero like he was in ancient Greece, because whilst they valued glory, brutal strength, and revenge, today we value selflessness,
Fate and destiny are very important parts in The Odyssey. Many gods and goddesses find their fate and destiny through the choices they make. For example, in Book 9, the Cyclopes predicts Odysseus’ destiny. “...Grant that Odysseus, raider of cities, never see his home… Should destiny intend that he shall see his roof again among his family and his father
P.13 Oedipus questions Teiresias, curious to know what he knows. “Oh gruesomely clear it has all unraveled… I was bonded with the people I should have never killed.” P.40 Oedipus sees what he has done wrong and feels vulnerable and horror. The audience clearly sees that heroes are very human and how real their limitations. Most people would have felt that same vulnerability if the gods had made us their plaything and tormented us, writing a prophecy of our doom.
Thesis:In Sophocles play ‘Oedipus the king’,Oedipus is an example of a tragic hero because he changed from a hero at the beginning of the play into a tragic hero by the end by experiencing power,tragic flow,downfall and death. Oedipus changes into a person no can believe of,because in the beginning he was a hero for the city of thebes by solving a riddle to defeat the monster that was killing and taking over thebes. Claim:Before the play Oedipus defeats sphinx and becomes a powerful king,At the beginning of the play people rely on Oedipus’s power and help. Data:For example the priest says “Oedipus greatest in all men’s eyes We pray,find some strength again and rescue or city”. Warrant:From this quote readers can see that how empowered oedipus feels like and how people in thebes rely on him,Clearly this scene represents the power stage of the tragic hero.
Oedipus the King, by Sophocles, is really a story about the necessity of placing more faith in others and their counsel than in oneself and one’s own beliefs. Repeatedly the titular character is pleaded with to listen to and accept the advice of those around him and each time he refuses to obey. Ultimately, Oedipus’ tendency to do perform the actions he would prefer to do rather than to allow his family to help guide him leads to his downfall and loss of the throne. A common characteristic of Greek tragedy is the “fatal flaw” of the main character and how this flaw leads to the character’s misfortune.
Wealth, smartphones, and fame are just a few of the many objectives that people glorify in today’s day. However, Achilles and Hector from the Iliad glorify: power, strength, and of course bravery. Like Achilles and his bravery, people today jump to the word ‘wealth’. Our entire lives are based off of how much we make and what we do for a living. We glorify the aspect of making more than another individual, as does Achilles glorifying how much braver he can be than Hector.
Question - King Oedipus has been called a tragedy of the state as well as of the individual (Implying the Thebes will suffer under Creon). Look closely at the qualities of Creon and Oedipus, and present your research materials to your group. Ensure your group discusses who the better leader is: Oedipus or Creon. Lesson Breakdown: TIME LEADER’S ROLE PARTICIPANTS’ ROLE MATERIALS 14 min Objective: To get my group members thinking about Oedipus and Creon’s character and how they will affect the other parts of the trilogy.
Oedipus was a tragic hero he was seen as a great man and was king,but he fell to misfortune because of his disability to see past his pride and anger which led to his demise. By not being able to see past his pride and anger Oedipus was not able to to avoid his prophetic destiny. He was blinded by his pride and anger so much that it became his tragic flaw ultimately leading him to his